Benedict Arnold’s Treason
John Andre’s partner in crime was American Revolutionary War general Benedict Arnold (1741 – 1801), the United States’ most infamous traitor, and one whose name has become an epithet, synonymous with treason and betrayal. It was shocking at the time, because Arnold had been a leading Patriot in the fight against the British, and was perhaps the most capable combat leader on the rebels’ side. However, a combination of resentments over slights, real and imagined, coupled with financial distress, soured him on the American cause and led him to sell out to the enemy.
Arnold had provided valuable service to the American side before turning traitor, and played a leading role early in the war in 1775, in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga in northern New York. It was the Patriots’ first major victory, and the cannon captured at Ticonderoga, which were then dragged over hundreds of miles of rough terrain to the rebels then besieging Boston, forced the British to evacuate that city.
Afterwards, Arnold led an expedition through extremely inhospitable terrain in an attempt to capture Quebec. It failed in its ultimate aim, but he exhibited remarkable leadership in getting his men to the outskirts of Quebec. An enterprising Arnold further added to his laurels in 1776, when he constructed a fleet from scratch at Lake Champlain, and used it to defeat a vastly superior British fleet.
While lionized as a hero by the public, Arnold’s successes, rash courage, and driving style aroused the jealousy and resentment of other officers, who backbit and schemed against him. When Congress created five new major generals in 1777, Arnold was stung when he was bypassed in favor of some of his juniors. Oly George Washington’s personal entreaties prevented the prickly Arnold’s resignation.
Soon thereafter, Arnold repelled a British attack in Connecticut, and was finally promoted to major general. However, his seniority was not restored, and that became another slight that ate at him. He sought to resign once more, but was prevailed upon to remain. Arnold then performed brilliantly in halting the British advance into upstate New York in 1777. He was instrumental in bringing about its defeat, culminating in the British surrender at Saratoga, where Arnold fought courageously and was severely injured.
Crippled by his wounds, he was put in charge of Philadelphia, where he took to socializing with Loyalist families, as well as to extravagant living, which he financed with iffy dealings that led to scandal. He also married a much younger woman of loyalist sympathies, Peggy Shippen – rumored to have been British intelligence officer John Andre’s mistress during the Redcoats’ occupation of Philadelphia. Arnold’s new wife had spendthrift habits that soon drove her husband deep into debt, and between resentments and financial difficulties, he secretly approached the British to offer his services. They accepted, and assigned major John Andre to be his spy handler.
Arnold had been placed in command of the American fortifications at West Point on the Hudson River, upstream from British-occupied New York City and barring the Redcoats from sailing upriver. Arnold plotted to sell the British West Point’s plans, and deliver them the fortifications for £20,000. However, John Andre was captured, along with documents given him by Arnold. The Culper Ring had developed intelligence that a high ranking American hero was about to defect, and between that information and the documents found on Andre, Arnold’s treason was unmasked. The American general fled just in time to evade arrest and the fate of Andre, who was hanged.